The Plummer Family Bash continued its tradition of limitless hospitality and camaraderie at the Northwest’s most exciting and highly anticipated handball event, with the Plummer family and the local handball community ensuring that more than 100 handball players and their families enjoyed a sensational weekend in Idaho. R48 pros advanced to the business end of the Plummer draw, with the top stars already in mid-season form in the second Pre-Race event of the R48 V season.
Junior WPH Clinic
WPH Master Instructor David Fink, NFL Legend and Plummer Family Bash Host Jake Plummer, and Top 10 R48 Pro Stephen Cooney hosted a Junior WPH Clinic for seven enthusiastic youngsters. The coaches taught footwork, throwing and hitting the ball with both hands, and having fun on the handball court.
“I just love seeing the kids on the handball court,” declared an excited Plummer. “This is such a great game and I could already see some of the kids getting hooked.”
Men’s Pro Singles
Luis Moreno advanced to the semifinals with a victory against good friend and practice partner Jonathan Iglesias. Naty Alvarado was awarded an injury forfeit in his quarterfinal match against David Fink when Fink’s back forced him to withdraw just nine points into game one. In a rematch of the first Race 4 Eight event’s final in 2011, Moreno controlled the action against a still very sharp Alvarado. Moreno used controlled fist shots and incredible court coverage to cruise to the final, 21-8, 21-17.
Emmett Peixoto blitzed the NYAC’s Stephen Cooney to advance to the semifinal, while a seemingly lethargic Sean Lenning needed a tiebreaker to defeat rising star Vic Perez. Peixoto look nearly invincible in game one against Lenning in the semifinal, dominating the frontcourt and ending rallies on his first strike to cruise 21-7. Lenning shifted gears in game two, building a 6-0 lead and keeping Peixoto off-balance with power kills and power hop pass shots. Lenning never relinquished his advantage in game two, forcing a tiebreaker, 21-13. Lenning continued to press the action in the tiebreaker, building a 3-1 lead after successive ace serves. Peixoto battled, making several incredible retrieves per rally to extend Lenning and dazzle the gallery, but Lenning arrived at match point, 10-3. Peixoto fought off four match points, but ultimately succumbed, 11-4.
Quarterfinals
Moreno defeat Iglesias 21-11, 21-17
Alvarado defeats Fink injury forfeit (back)
Peixoto defeats Cooney 21-3, 21-4
Lenning defeats Perez 21-11, 18-21, 11-4
Semifinals
Moreno defeats Alvarado 21-8, 21-17
Lenning defeats Peixoto 7-21, 21-13, 11-4
Finals
Moreno vs. Lenning (Finals on Sunday)
Men’s Open & Plummer Return to Pro Ball
The Plummer Bash has brackets for all age divisions and abilities and can be labeled as a very strong event in most classes; none more than the upcoming final between local legend, Jay Balkenbush (WA) and regional standout, Bear Meiring (CO) in the men’s open singles. This clash was destined to happen and we are lucky to bare witness to these two 40+ Senior Powerhouse players, later this morning.
In the Men’s pro doubles, Jake Plummer, tournament namesake, teamed up with Vic Perez (mainstay on the WPH R48Pro Tour) for his first pro bracket appearance in a few years at this event. Plummer (40), had two hip surgeries over the past few seasons that kept him off the court, presumably from his NFL Career, where he played for the Broncos of Denver and the Cardinals of Arizona, after a storied College career at ASU. Jake advanced in his opening round with an impressive 19, (11), 2 breaker victory over Anthony Selestow/Cody Townsend in the Rd of 8. Unfortunately for Plummer, Sean Lenning & Fred Schoener were waiting in the semis, where the two Great Pacific North-westerners advanced with a two game score line (19, 12). Plummer’s semifinal doubles loss was a great re-intro into today’s fast paced pro-style Follow the pro doubles bracket HERE>
The Plummer Family Helluva Handball Bash 7 will not be broadcast live, but like the World Players of Handball on Facebook, log onto wphlive.tv or follow the WPH on Twitter @dfwph and @wphlive for all of the updates from the PFHHB7! To follow the draws and results from the PFHHB7, click HERE>
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